McCain to Introduce 'A La Carte' Cable TV Bill

Sen. John McCain is drafting a bill that would require cable and satellite TV providers to allow consumers access only to the channels they watch without paying for an entire package.

The Arizona Republican, a former chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, is expected to introduce the legislation in the coming days, reports The Hill. He backed a similar so-called "a la carte" cable TV bill in 2006, but it failed to pass.

The new legislation reportedly also would ban TV networks from requiring cable providers to buy all of its stations in order to carry the channels it wants.

The National Association of Broadcasters and the National Cable and Telecommunications Association are expected to oppose the legislation, The Hill reported, noting that both industries have argued against the government micromanaging how they offer their products to customers and that bundling allows for more diverse programming.

The bill reportedly includes what is likely to be a controversial provision boosting the Web TV service Aereo, which allows customers to stream broadcast TV on a mobile device or computer.

Several TV networks are suing Aereo, claiming copyright infringement. Some, including Fox News, have threatened to take their programming off the air if Aereo wins the suit.